Green Tea

Who has not heard about Green tea!? Even if some people do not enjoy the taste of it, a lot of of them drinks it because of incredible amount of the healthy ingredients. I personally am addicted to it, and really enjoy drinking it. It is always the first thing that crosses my mind when I wake up (together with an apple :)).

But what exactly is green tea??

Is one of the most valued and widely consumed drinks in the world. It has been used as a medicine for thousands of years, originating in China, but widely used through Asia. Besides being a delicious, inexpensive beverage that has no calories, tea has a unique set of natural chemicals that provide various therapeutic benefits. It has a multitude of uses from lowering blood pressure to preventing cancer. The reason that green tea has more health benefits attached to it than black tea is (apparently) due to the processing. Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation whereas green tea’s processing avoids the fermentation process. As a result, green tea retains maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances that give green tea its many benefits.

How do we get green tea?

Green tea is developed and prepared in a number of ways, with respect to the kind of green tea preferred. Consequently of those techniques, maximum levels of anti-oxidants and polyphenols are maintained. The growing conditions could be divided in to two basic forms – those grown underneath the shade and those grown in the sunlight. The green tea extract plants are grown in rows that are trimmed to create shoots in a normal method, and are usually gathered 3 times each year. Place is taken by the first flush in late April to early Might. The 2nd crop often takes place from June through July, and the 3rd finding takes place in late July to early August. Often, there may also be considered a crop. It’s the very first flush in the spring which provides the highest quality leaves, with higher rates to complement.

What are the benefits of the green tea??

1. Weight Loss Green tea increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories. Evidence is still inconclusive in this area, but it’s thought that the catechins found in tea, specifically green tea, create thermogenesis-the production of heat within the body which is related to burning calories. These compounds may inhibit certain chemicals in the brain, therby prolonging thermogenesis. In one study, participants who drank four cups of tea daily had remarkably higher fat oxidation (by 12 percent) and burned an average of 67 additional calories a day. Drinking at least three cups a day is recommended to raise the body’s metabolic rate.

2. Diabetes Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage. When starch is consumed, it requires the enzyme amylase to break it down into simple sugars that can be absorbed in the bloodstream. Green tea polyphenols inhibit amylase, and so can help lower blood sugar levels. High blood levels of glucose and insulin predispose people to diabetes.

3. Heart Disease Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.

4. Esophageal Cancer It can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, but it is also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging the healthy tissue around them.

5. Cholesterol Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.

6. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s It is said to delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried out on mice showed that green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells.

7. Tooth Decay Along with the natural fluoride found in tea, polyphenols and catechins are associated with killing bacteria that cause tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease-the number one cause for tooth loss. A study published this year by the European Journal of Nutrition found that consumption of one or more cups of green tea a day was significantly associated with decreasing the risk of tooth loss. Adding sugar, honey, or other sweeteners to tea however, may negate these benefits.

8. Blood Pressure Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. A major cause of hypertension (high blood pressure) is an enzyme secreted by the kidneys called angiotension- converting enzyme (ACE). Popular drugs for hypertension act as ACE inhibitors: by blocking the effects of ACE, blood pressure is reduced. Green tea is a natural ACE inhibitor, and several medical studies show lowered blood pressure in animals and humans given green tea extracts.

9. Depression Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers.

10. Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases. Numerous research has demonstrated that tea is beneficial in preventing cancer including prostate, pancreatic, breast, colorectal, esophageal, bladder, lung, and stomach. The catechins found in tea prevent cell mutation, deactivate certain carcinogens, and reduce the formation and growth of tumors. Drinking as many as four cups a day may be necessary to reap the anti-cancer benefits. There is growing evidence to suggest that green tea contains compounds that fight cancer. The tea contains a compound called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which helps inhibit blood vessel growth.

11. Skincare Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage.

12. Bone Health Routine tea consumption, especially for more than 10 years, has been associated with decreasing the risk of osteoporotic fractures. It’s thought that tea helps diminish bone loss through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, tea’s health-promoting properties are thought to suppress the breakdown of bone while increasing the amount and activity of bone building cells.